Natural gas is a major contributor to national prosperity.

The Australian oil and gas industry is today building about $200 billion worth of projects – and it has the potential to build another $100 billion worth. Developing Australia’s shale gas resources would help underpin further expansion of gas production for domestic and export purposes.

In 2011-12, the Australian oil and gas industry paid $8.8 billion in taxes ($4.8 billion in corporate taxes and $4 billion in production taxes). This is forecast to reach almost $13 billion in 2020. At a time when government revenues are under pressure, the oil and gas industry’s contribution is very important to the nation’s economic wellbeing.

Did you know Australia’s natural gas industry is in danger of losing its competitive edge? Our reputation as a low-cost energy supplier is under enormous pressure.

Despite the massive investment in Australia’s natural gas industry, $150 billion worth of energy and resource projects stalled in Australia over the last two years.

Now is not the time to impose more costs and uncertainty on natural gas producers. Australia already has more than 150 statutes governing offshore and onshore upstream petroleum activities, regulated by more than 50 government agencies at a national, state and territory level. Inefficient, duplicative and bureaucratic red tape is putting the industry’s expansion at risk.

We have a chance to safely develop the country’s extensive gas reserves to secure our energy future with an abundant, affordable, reliable and cleaner-burning fuel.

However, our future economic success is threatened by people who do not care enough about losing Australian jobs and investment.

Natural gas is an essential raw material for manufacturing. Almost one-third of the gas consumed in Australia is used by manufacturers. Gas is essential for many industrial processes and is an invisible ingredient in many everyday products.

Expanding the use of natural gas – both in Australia and in our Asian LNG export markets – helps fight climate change.

Natural gas is our natural advantage – we can’t afford to lose it.

In Queensland alone, the natural gas industry has in recent years contributed more than $100 million towards community projects, charitable organisations and aeromedical evacuation services that are saving lives.

Once-struggling regional communities now enjoy unemployment rates well below the national average, farmers are earning secure income that’s not dependent on the weather, and small business confidence is high.

Other states and the NT can enjoy similar benefits – creating several thousand jobs in construction, operations, infrastructure and service.

Natural gas is our natural advantage – we can’t afford to lose it.

Australia’s next wave of economic success is now under threat and thousands of jobs are at risk.

Of all fuel types, gas offers the best combination of abundance, cleanness, reliability and flexibility.

It is a major fuel for households and industries – and a major feedstock for many industrial products.

I want you, as my federal parliamentary representative, to support the Australian natural gas industry’s development so that it may put downward pressure on energy prices and bring on the next wave of Australia's prosperity.

The oil and gas industry is currently spending close to $200 billion on new projects that have so far generated 100,000 jobs across the Australian economy; which will see the industry’s tax contribution rise to almost $13 billion per annum by 2020; and which will underpin the Australian economy for decades to come. We need to also support the next wave of projects that are today under consideration.

I am sending you this because I want to see action on creating more Australian industry and jobs.